Rayner Grice

Rayner Grice is a family lawyer based in Birmingham specialising in complex cases involving domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour, sensitive fact finding hearings and disputes concerning children. She also advises on the financial consequences of divorce and relationship breakdown, particularly where allegations of abuse, safeguarding concerns or power imbalances are present.

Rayner acts for individuals experiencing domestic abuse or coercive and controlling behaviour, and for parents involved in complex and high conflict disputes about children where abuse is alleged. She regularly advises clients facing fact finding hearings, parental alienation concerns and contested child arrangement proceedings, as well as on the associated financial implications of divorce in these circumstances.

She has particular expertise in representing clients in complex fact finding hearings involving allegations of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour and parental alienation, including cases involving significant safeguarding concerns.

Whilst Rayner advises across all areas of family law, she is particularly known for her work on complex private law children matters and high value financial remedy cases where issues of domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour or allegations of harm arise. Her practice frequently involves contested fact finding hearings, parental alienation issues, protective injunctions and disputes requiring careful management of risk and safeguarding.

Rayner is also regularly instructed in high value and complex financial remedy proceedings, including cases involving family businesses, trust structures, significant pension assets, inherited and pre marital wealth and disputed pre nuptial and post nuptial agreements.

Rayner is the National Family Team Leader and Head of the Birmingham Office.

She qualified in 2000 and joined Clarke Willmott as a Partner in 2014, becoming Head of the Birmingham Office in 2017.

She represents international clients including residents of Dubai, France, the USA and Singapore, and advises personalities from the sports and entertainment world.

How Rayner can help you

Rayner provides clear, pragmatic advice to clients dealing with high conflict family situations, including cases involving domestic abuse, coercive control, safeguarding concerns and difficult child arrangements. She focuses on protecting her clients and their children while achieving fair and robust financial outcomes on divorce or separation.

Rayner regularly advises on:

• Fact finding hearings involving allegations of domestic abuse and coercive or controlling behaviour
• Child arrangements disputes where abuse, safeguarding issues or parental alienation are alleged
• Financial remedies on divorce where abuse, coercive control or power imbalance is a concern
• Protective injunctions, including non molestation orders in cases involving coercive or controlling behaviour
• Private law children disputes
• High value divorce and complex financial settlements
• Financial remedy proceedings on divorce and dissolution
• Pre nuptial and post nuptial agreements
• Complex pension arrangements
• Family business and trust structures
• Financial disputes between unmarried cohabitees

Rayner in the media

Rayner is a regular media commentator and published author on family law.

• £14million divorce case highlights complexities of modern family asset structures – Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
• (Don’t) keep it in the family – The Business Desk
• Seriousness of parental alienation highlighted in recent case – pro-manchester
• Clarke Willmott’s Birmingham Office Improves on Already Impressive Legal 500 Results For 2026 – Black Country Chamber of Commerce
• Law firm welcomes TV soap’s coercive control storyline – Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
• Coronation Street: Controlling and coercive behaviour signs – The Bolton News
• Clarke Willmott Holds Webinar on Controlling and Coercive Behaviour – pro-manchester
• Seriousness of parental alienation highlighted in recent case – News from Wales

Recognition for Rayner

Rayner is recognised for her expertise in complex children and domestic abuse related family law cases, as well as for her work on complex financial remedy proceedings. She is ranked as a Leading Partner in Legal 500 and Band 1 in Chambers & Partners and is a member of Resolution

• “She is very shrewd, knowledgeable and focused on getting the right result for her client” – Chambers & Partners
• “Rayner is an exceptional family solicitor and goes above and beyond. Her fountain of knowledge and attention to detail is immeasurable” – The Legal 500
• “Rayner is a tenacious, powerful and determined solicitor who is totally focused on her clients and the outcome they want. A fierce opponent with an intellect to fear. A powerhouse of a solicitor.” – The Legal 500
• “The team is brilliantly led by Rayner Grice. She is an astute lawyer. Very down to earth and provides her clients with practical advice rather than theories. If you are involved in high-value family proceedings, you need Rayner Grice in your corner.” – The Legal 500
• “Rayner has the right blend of toughness and compassion to be understanding of the issues and also litigate without fear.”– Chambers & Partners
• “Rayner is highly experienced, shrewd, astute and always immaculately prepared.” – Chambers & Partners